Sacramento Region Air Quality App

This free app is available in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Windows Store. Like SpareTheAir.com, it displays EPA's NowCast for each monitoring site in the Sacramento Region. Push notifications for wildfire smoke alerts are also available through the app.

PM 2.5 Monitor Map

The PM 2.5 Monitor Map is activated on SpareTheAir.com when a wildfire smoke episode is anticipated or occurs. This map provides EPA's NowCast levels at all regional monitors, including any temporary monitors placed and brought online by Sac Metro Air District, another air district or CARB.

Social Media

Social media is a great way to stay informed during a wildfire smoke episode. Here are some resources to follow.

@AQMD on Twitter: Sac Metro Air District provides air quality information during smoke episodes on its Twitter feed.

Fire hashtags: Wildfires are given names by responding agencies. Searching the fire name with a hashtag on Twitter or Facebook will often provide good information from a range of sources. You can find fire names in the top section of this page or through CAL Fire or the news media.

Example: Search #RimFire for the Rim Fire or #KingFire for the King Fire

California Smoke Blog: The California Smoke Blog is maintained and updated by several public agencies. Air quality advisories and smoke forecasts are often posted there by the U.S. Forest Service and air districts.

​Satellite Images

These tools help to visualize smoke plumes from various fires.

GOES-East: This resource from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides a loop of satellite imagery for the West Coast, updated every five minutes and using True Color during the day and multispectral infrared at night. An explanation of how to read the map is included at the link.

Weather Information

During a wildfire smoke episode, the National Weather Service typically includes information on smoke in its robust daily forecast discussions. These forecasts incorporate wind direction and strength in addition to other atmospheric conditions that impact smoke transport.

Sac Metro Air District's daily air quality forecast also takes smoke modeling into consideration during episodes. This includes forecasting PM 2.5 levels during periods of concern in addition to factoring in wildfire smoke's impact on ground-level ozone formation.

Health Information

Wildfire smoke includes particulate matter (PM). PM can be
directly emitted, as with fires, or it can form in the atmosphere
from reactions of gases such as nitrogen oxides. PM from wildfire smoke can cause serious health impacts.

The size of particles is directly linked to their potential
for causing health problems. Small particles (known as PM 2.5 or fine
particulate matter) pose the greatest problems because they bypass the body’s
natural defenses and can get deep into your lungs and potentially your
bloodstream. Exposure to such particles can affect both your lungs and your
heart.

Sac Metro Air District monitors PM 2.5 concentrations at several sites throughout Sacramento County.

Long-term exposure to particulate pollution can result in
significant health problems including:

Increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing

Decreased lung function

Aggravated asthma

Development of chronic respiratory disease in children

Development of chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive lung disease

Irregular heartbeat

Nonfatal heart attacks

Premature death in people with heart or lung disease,
including death from lung cancer

Short-term exposure to particulate pollution can:

Aggravate lung disease causing asthma attacks and acute bronchitis

Increase susceptibility to respiratory infections

Cause heart attacks and arrhythmias in people with heart
disease

Even if you are healthy, you may experience temporary
symptoms, such as: